December 4th Major News Events

1934 Turkey - - Uniforms Forbidden

In Turkey all uniforms were forbidden - even Boy Scout uniforms from other countries. Also prohibited were Nazi brown uniforms and Fascist black military dress.

1941 United States - - Airplane Production

President Roosevelt implied that he would like the United States to produce 50,000 airplanes. Probably this goal would be met according to the president of the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce. That would mean manufacturing 4,000 planes a month until July 1945.

1943 United States - - PWA Ended

The Works Progress Administration, which had been created to provide jobs during the Great Depression of the 1930's is ended.

1945 United States - - United Nations

The U.S. Senate approves U.S. participation in the UN. The United Nations had officially came into existence on October 24, 1945.

1953 Canada - - US Relations

Canadian-U.S. relations were at a low point, even though the two countries boasted the longest undefended border in the world. The source of the animosity was over Igor Gouzenko who had information on Soviet espionage. The Royal Commission in Canada had used Gouzenko's testimony to create the most comprehensive document on Soviet spying ever. However, Canadians felt that the U.S. was blackmailing Minister of External Affairs, Lester B. Pearson, by suggesting that he leaked information to Soviet spies.

1954 U.S.A. - - Burger King

The first Burger King (Insta Burger King) is opened in Miami, Florida by James McLamore and David Edgerton. Burger King continued to grow slowly and in 1967 followed other fast food chains by allowing franchise restaurants. The idea was copied from the fast food restaurant concept introduced by Dick and Mac McDonald (Ray Kroc bought out Dick and Mac McDonald in 1955).

1961 U.K. - - Birth Control Pill

The birth control pill an oral contraception will now be available on the National Health Service..

1971 Northern Ireland - - Pub Bomb Belfast

Bomb demolishes crowded Belfast pub killing at least 10 and injuring 17 one of a number of attacks.

1971 Pakistan - - Worsening Relations India and Pakistan

The Indian Navy attacks the Pakistan Navy and fighting intensifies in Karachi. The United nations calls for a cease fire and negotiations over concern that the fighting could deteriorate into full scale war.

1974 Norway - - Oil Dispute

Russia and Norway were having another round of talks about the boundaries beneath the Barents Sea in the Arctic. There was oil under the sea and Russia was eager to get at it, however, Norway wanted to wait and get the borders settled before allowing the Russians to bring their oil drilling equipment in.

1989 Israel - - Chemical Weapons

Israel feared the use of chemical weapons should another war break out with Syria. One Israeli soldier warned, 'We know they have chemical weapons. We have to assume they would use chemical weapons in a war.' Syrians had been seen by Israelis training for chemical warfare. However, it was believed that Israel had the same weapons at their disposal.

1991 Lebanon - - Last US Hostage Released

Associated Press correspondent Terry Anderson, the last and longest-held US hostage in Lebanon, is freed by an Islamic militant group after 2,454 days in captivity.

1991 U.S.A. - - Last PAN AM Flight

Pan American World Airways (Pan AM) takes it's last commercial Pan Am Flight 436 from Bridgetown, Barbados, to Miami. Pan Am is remembered for being the first worldwide mail delivery service on Aircraft called Clipper flying boats, and created many firsts including the first commercial service across the North Atlantic.

1992 Somalia - - Starving Millions

Somalia did not have a government and its people were starving. It was a country that needed the long term help of the world police to keep order and to make sure that aid got delivered. The United States sends American troops to lead a mercy mission to Somalia, threatening military action against warlords and gangs who were blocking food for starving millions but did not want to commit itself to a long term military intervention, because it was scared of recreating another situation like the Vietnam war.

2001 U.S.A. - - Hamas Assets Frozen

The United States froze the financial assets of organizations allegedly linked to the terrorist group Hamas including the Texas-based Islamic foundation that calls itself a charity, saying the organization acts as a front to finance the militant wing of the Palestinian group Hamas.

2003 U.S.A. - - US / Europe Trade War Tariffs

The US has pulled back from implementing a punitive tax on imported steel amounting to increases of 30% to the cost of a range of imported steel products, to avoid a damaging trade war between the United States and Europe after the EU threatened implementing tariffs of $2.2bn on US imports into Europe.

2006 Sweden - - Straw Goat

In the city of Gavle, Sweden it is traditional around Christmas to erect a straw goat before the coming of Santa Claus. This year a 43 foot high goat - the biggest ever -- was put up and coated with flame-retardant chemicals, so that vandals could not burn it down. Previous goats have gone up in flames or been vandalized.

2006 United States - - Dinosaur Eggs Sell for $420,000

A 65 million-year-old nest of dinosaur eggs has been auctioned to an unnamed buyer in Los Angeles for $420,000. The nest contains twenty-two broken eggs, nineteen of which are in embryonic form, with some of the raptors clearly visible. The nest had been discovered in Guangdong, China in 1984, and the buyer has not been named.

2006 United States - - U.N. Ambassador John Bolton

U.N. Ambassador John Bolton offers his resignation to President George W. Bush who accepts it. John Bolton had been put in the position when President George W. Bush made a recess appointment of Bolton, installing him as Permanent US Representative to the UN following the Democratic filibuster, he was never confirmed by the Senate for the position.

2007 United States - - National Intelligence Estimate Iran

Following yesterdays release of the National Intelligence Estimate On Iran Nuclear Weapons Program, President Bush says that Iran remains a threat to the world, despite new intelligence saying the country is not building nuclear weapons at this time. Mr. Bush said that the report released on Monday was a 'warning signal,' and that the potential of a nuclear Iran as a threat 'hasn't changed.' Mr. Bush said the new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) was 'an opportunity for us to rally the international community' into pressuring Iran into the suspension of its efforts to enrich uranium. The Democrats are calling for a rethink of policy on Iran. The call comes after a major new intelligence assessment suggests that the Iranians are not trying to develop nuclear weapons. The latest National Intelligence Estimate says that Iran stopped its weapons program in 2003. But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said it was vital to continue U.S.-led efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran later protests at American spy techniques used to obtain the information in the report.

2009 Russia - - Nightclub Explosion

About seventy-six people are believed to have been killed and about sixty hospitalized in a blast that took place in a cafe in the Ural's city of Perm. The blast occurred at 23:15 Moscow time, and was followed by fire. Firefighters have brought the blaze under control. The cafe was attached to a residential house, which was not damaged by the blast. Official have said that most of the casualties were due to smoke inhalation and stampede that followed. The majority of victims were cafe employees and their relatives, as the cafe was marking its anniversary. Other sources say that at least one hundred and nine people have died.

2011 Iran - - Iran Downs US Drone

Iran announced that it had taken down a US drone that had violated its borders. The country stated the spy plane suffered minimal damage and that their army was inspecting it. The incident was only one of many that have recently created higher tensions between Iran and Western countries.

2012 United States - - World's Oldest Person Dies

The world's oldest living person, the 116 year old Besse Cooper from Georgia died. Cooper had been Guinness World Record certified as the oldest person, but after her death the title would move to 115 year old Dina Manfredini.

2013 United States - - Rockwell Painting Auctioned

The Norman Rockwell painting "Saying Grace" was sold at auction for forty-six million dollars in New York, setting a new record for American artwork at auction.